Deuteronomy 34:12

And in all that mighty hand,.... In all done by his hand, which he stretched out over the sea and divided, to make a passage through it for the Israelites, and with his rod in it smote the rocks, and

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, There arose not a prophet since.

Deuteronomy 34:12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel. Ver. 12.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES WE have now passed through the Pentateuch, and have endeavoured carefully to mark its important contents. Its antiquity sets it at the head of all the writings in the world; and the various subjects it embraces make it of the utmost consequence to every civilized part of the earth. Its philosophy, jurisprudence, history, geography, and chronology, entitle it to the respect of the whole human race; while its system of theology and religion demonstrably prove it to be a revelation from GOD. But on these topics, as many observations have already been made as the nature of a commentary professing to study brevity can possibly admit. Of MOSES, the writer of the Pentateuch, considered as a historian and philosopher, a great deal has been said in the course of the notes on the book of GENESIS; and especially at the conclusion of the fiftieth chapter; to which the reader is particularly referred. See Clarke on Genesis 50:26. Of Moses as a legislator, volumes might be written, and the subject not be exhausted. What is called the Law of Moses, is more properly the Law of God; and Torath Yehovah, the Law of Jehovah, is the grand title of the Pentateuch. Such a definition of this term as comports with the nature, structure, and design of the Pentateuch, has already been given in the note, See Clarke on Exodus 12:40, to which the reader is requested to refer. Could we conceive Moses to have been the author of this system, we must consider him more than mortal: no wisdom of man has ever yet been able to invent such a code of laws. This merit however has been disputed, and his laws severely criticised by certain persons whose interest it was to prove religion to be a cheat, because they had none themselves; and whose case must be hopeless could it be proved to be true. To some whose mental taste and feeling are strangely perverted, every thing in heathenism wears not only the most fascinating aspect, but appears to lay claim to and possess every excellence. These have called up Confucius, Menu, Zoroaster, and Mohammed himself, to dispute the palm of excellence with Moses! To examine the claims of such competitors, and to decide on their respective merits would require a large treatise, and my limits confine me to a sketch. To any godly, impartial mind, properly acquainted with the subject, little needs to be said; to those who are prejudiced, all reasoning is thrown away. A few words on the merit of each of these competitors must suffice. 1. To Con fu tsee, the great Chinese lawgiver, corruptly called Confucius, are attributed, in the records of his country, a number of ordinances and institutions which do honour to his times and to his people; but alas! how much of the darkness, erroneousness, and infirmity of the human mind do they exhibit!

11, 12. These vv. are irrelevant to the more spiritual estimate of Moses’ prophetic rank in Deuteronomy 34:10, and therefore may be due to a later hand. On the deuteronomic phrases signs and wonders, mighty hand, great terror, see Deuteronomy 4:34, and on all Israel (not P’s children of Israel), see Deuteronomy 4:44, Deuteronomy 31:23. Thus the Book closes in characteristically deuteronomic style.

JOSHUA THE NEW LEADER — THE OF MOSES, Deuteronomy 34:9-12.Joshua (in the Greek, ‘Ιησους, Jesus) now takes the place of Moses. His name first appears in Exodus 17:9, as leader of the forces of Israel against Amalek at Rephidim.